קבלה אויף ישעיהו 33:14

It is on account of the sin of flattery and hypocrisy that the rains are withheld.⁶²⁶See Talmud Bavli, Taanit 7b On account of the sin of flattery and hypocrisy, one is judged in purgatory (Gehinnom) eternally, as it states,⁶²⁷Isaiah 33:14 “Sinners were afraid in Zion; trembling seized hypocrites, [saying], ‘Which of us can live with the consuming fire? Which of us can live with the never-dying blaze?’” Our sages, of blessed memory, stated⁶²⁸Talmud Bavli, Sanedrin 101b that the only reason Yeravam merited kingship was because he did not flatteringly yield to Solomon.

Then Yitzchak came and added, by informing the people of HaShem’s-יהו"ה quality of fear-Pachad-פחד, and that whoever does not serve Him will be punished, like a servant who rebels against his master. He thus instilled awe and fear of HaShem-יהו״ה, blessed is He, into the creatures, thereby bringing them under the wings of the Indwelling Presence of HaShem-יהו״ה, blessed is He, the Shechinah, by informing them of the terror and punishment that those who rebel against the Creator, blessed is He, will face. This is the secret of the Dread of Yitzchak-Pachad Yitzchak-פחד יצחק. For, Yitzchak inherited the quality of fear-Pachad-פחד of HaShem-יהו"ה and therefore warned mankind, admonishing them to guard themselves from the judgments of the Great Court of Law (Beit Din HaGadol) that judges the wicked with the quality of terror-Pachad-פחד, called the punishments of purgatory (Gehinom), as the verse states,⁴⁵Isaiah 33:14 “Sinners were afraid-Pachdoo-פחדו in Zion.”

Now, because this fire consumes every other fire, everyone is in fear of it, those above and those below. Even the supernal angels are terrified, struck with fear and consumed by this fire. They are incapable of approaching it, but are struck with panic by the overwhelming strength and power of its dominion. This quality is thus called Terror-Pachad-פחד, since all the multitudes of hosts, both above and below, are in utter terror of it. Referring to this all-consuming fire that burns everything, the verse states,¹⁵⁵Isaiah 2:19 “They will enter caves in the rocks and tunnels in the ground, because of the terror-Pachad-פחד of HaShem-יהו״ה and because of His Majestic Glory.” This is called “the place of fear,” and is the crucible for the wicked and rebellious and by the power of its flames many troops are burned. The verse therefore states,¹⁵⁶Isaiah 33:14 “Sinners were afraid-Pachadu-פחדו in Zion; trembling seized the hypocrites. ‘Which of us can live with the consuming fire? Which of us can live with the eternal blaze?’”